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U N IT E D ST A T E S D E P A R T M E N T O F L A B O R
Frances Perkins, S e c re ta ry
B U R E A U OF L A B O R ST A T IS T IC S
Isador Lubin, C o m m is s io n e r
in cooperation w ith
W O R K PROJECTS A D M IN IS T R A T IO N
+
Salaries and Hours o f Labor in
M unicipal Fire Departments
VOLUME I
New England Cities
+
P repared b y
D IV IS IO N O F C O N S T R U C T I O N A N D
P U B L IC E M P L O Y M E N T
H E R M A N B. B Y E R , C h ie f
Bulletin 7s[o. 684
U N IT E D S T A T E S
G O V E R N M E N T P R IN T IN G OFFICE
W A S H IN G T O N : 1940
For sale by the Superintendent o f Documents, Washington, D . C.
Price 10 cents
U N IT E D STA TE S D E P A R T M E N T OF LA B O R
Frances Perkins, Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Isa d o r L u b i n , C o m m issio n er
A . F . H in r ic h s , A s s is ta n t C om m issio n er
Donald Davenport, Chief, Em
ployment and Occuptional
Outlook Branch
Henry J. Fitzgerald, Chief,
Business M a n ag em en t
Branch
Hugh S. Hanna, Chief, Edito
rial and Research
Aryness Joy, Chief, Prices and
Cost of Living Branch
N. Arnold Tolies, Chief, Work
ing Conditions and Indus
trial Relations Branch
S i d n e y W. Wi l c o x, C hi e f
Statistician
C H IE F S OF D IV IS IO N S
Herman B. Byer, Construction
and Public Employment
Florence Peterson, Industrial
Relations
J. M. Cutts, Wholesale Prices
Charles F. Sharkey,
Law Information
Swen Kj aer ,
Accidents
Boris Stern, Labor Informa
tion Bulletin
Industrial
Labor
Stella Stewart, Retail Prices
John J. Mahaney, Machine
Tabulation
Robert J. Myers, Wage and
Hour Statistics
Lewis E. Talbert, Employment
Statistics
Faith M. Williams, Cost of
Living
STATE, C O UNTY, AND M UNICIPAL SURVEY
n
J es se M . H a d le y , D irector
Contents
Page
Summary__________________________________________________________________
Annual salaries:
General level of salaries_______________________________________________
Salaries in selected occupations_______________________________________
Salaries of privates____________________________________________________
Hours and working conditions:
Average hours and days on duty per week____________________________
Perquisites supplied to firemen _______________________________________
Vacations with pay___________________________________________________
Promotions of lower-grade privates___________________________________
Percentage distribution of employees and salaries:
All employees_________________________________________________________
Supervisory employees________________________________________________
Per capita salary cost of fire protection and distribution of employees_
Appendix:
Table A .— Cities covered by this report______________________________
Table B.— Number of employees and annual salaries in cities of
100.000 or more, by occupation_____________________________________
Table C.— Number of employees and annual salaries in cities of
50.000 to 100,000, by occupation___________________________________
Table D.— Number of employees and annual salaries in cities of
25.000 to 50,000, by occupation____________________________________
Table E.— Average hours and days on duty, by occupational divi
sions________________________________________________________________
Table F.— Total salaries and total number of employees_____________
m
1
2
4
9
10
13
14
14
15
16
17
19
20
24
26
30
31
Letter of Transmittal
U n ited S ta tes D epar tm en t of L a b o r ,
B u r e a u of L abor S tatist ic s ,
Washington, D. C.y September 7, 1940.
The S ecr e ta r y of L a b o r :
I have the honor to transmit herewith a study of employment and
salaries in fire departments of 54 New England cities, as of July 1, 1938,
prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with the
Work Projects Administration.
I sador L u b in , Commissioner.
Hon. F rances P e r k in s ,
Secretary oj Labor.
PREFACE
The emergency character of fire fighting, as well as the hazards in
volved, make the working conditions of firemen unique. Despite
this fact, there has been comparatively little information available of
a comprehensive nature on the conditions under which this large
group of municipal employees work, although the Bureau of Labor
Statistics did publish a brief report on Salaries and Working Condi
tions of Fire Department Employees in 1934. T o present a more
complete and up-to-date picture of the working conditions and earn
ings of firemen, the Bureau, with the cooperation of the Work Projects
Administration, has conducted a survey of fire departments in cities
with a population of 25,000 or more.
The present study of the New England States is the first in a series
of nine. It includes detailed information on salaries and perquisites
and the hours of work in effect on July 1, 1938, as well as descriptions
of the systems used to stagger hours in order to provide continuous
fire protection. There is also a discussion of vacation and promotion
policies. Similar reports will be issued for each of the other geographic
divisions of the United States.
This survey was under the general direction of Herman B. Byer,
Chief of the Division of Construction and Public Employment, and
under the more immediate supervision of Jesse M . Hadley, Director
of the State, County, and Municipal Survey. Arthur Dadian pre
pared the analysis and arranged the presentation of the data, which
were edited and tabulated by Mahlon B. Buckman. Carol P
Brainard was technical adviser.
I sador L u b in ,
Commissioner of Labor Statistics.
S eptem ber 1940.
VII
Bulletin N o . 684 (Vol. I) o f the
U nited States Bureau o f Labor Statistics
Salaries and H ours o f Labor in M unicipal Fire
Departments, N ew England Cities
Summary
The fire departments in 54 of the 55 New England cities with a
population of 25,000 or more 1 employed 7,940 people with annual
salaries approximating $16,996,000 on July 1, 1938. Ninety-three of
every 100 employees were in the fire-fighting division.2 The remain
ing personnel was engaged in such activities as fire-prevention, firealarm, maintenance, and clerical work. Of every 93 in the fire
fighting divisions, 74 were privates, 8 captains, and 8 lieutenants; the
rest were drivers, engineers, battalion chiefs, and chiefs and their
assistants. Only 1 small city had volunteers in place of paid privates
and 1 medium-sized and 4 small cities3 had small staffs of privates
supplemented by call men who received a slight remuneration.
In
most cities, the advancement of privates from the lower grades to
the first grade was automatic. Practically all of the employees re
ceived approximately 2 weeks’ vacation with pay.
Ninety percent of all employees earned between $1,650 and $2,550
a year. The annual salaries showed considerable uniformity. The
salary differences among the various occupations within the same de
partment and among the various grades within the same occupation
were not great. For the same occupation the large cities, as a rule,
paid somewhat higher salaries than the small cities. These differences,
however, were small in the nonsupervisory occupations, which included
four-fifths of all employees.
Eighty-seven percent of all employees worked under some variation
of a two-platoon system of assignment which averaged 84 hours on
duty per week. Within each fire department almost all the employees,
93 percent, had the same average working hours per week. In the
large cities the average hours on duty per week were somewhat shorter.
1 The U. S. Census of Population for 1930 was used to determine the size of the cities. In 1930, New
England had 55 cities with a population of 25,000 or more. Five of these were towns classed by the Bureau
of the Census as urban units. The town of West Haven, Conn., is not included in this bulletin because
no information was furnished. See appendix for list of the cities included in this study.
2 The fire-fighting division includes the chief, the assistant chiefs and other administrative assistants, the
battalion chiefs, captains, lieutenants, engineers, drivers, and privates.
2
The medium-sized city had 32 call men at $219 a year each and the small cities had a total of 122 call men
drawing from $100 to $350 a year, or a total of $25,000. These employees and their salaries are not included in
the text tables.
262138°—40-----2
1
2
SALARIES AND HOURS1 OF LABOR, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
Annual Salaries
General Level of Salaries
Annual salaries in the fire departments of the 54 New England cities
were concentrated within a relatively narrow range. Ninety percent
of all employees received between $1,650 and $2,550, and 51 percent
received between $2,050 and $2,250. The annual salaries were some
what higher in the large than in the small cities. In cities having a
population of 100,000 or more, 19 out of every 100 employees received
less than $2,050 a year as compared with 40 in cities having a popula
tion of 50,000 and under 100,000, and 51 in cities having a population
of 25,000 and under 50,000.
For the sake of brevity, hereafter, the group of largest cities men
tioned above will be designated as group I,4 the medium sized cities,
group II, and the smaller cities, group III.
T a b l e 1.— D istrib u tio n o f em p lo yees in fire departm ents o f 5 4 N e w E n g la n d cities ,
b y sala ry grou p and size o f c it y , J u ly 1, 1 9 3 8
[For a more detailed analysis of data, see appendix tables B, C, and D]
Number
Salary group
All groups
___
All
cities
Percent
City group 1
II
I
All
cities
III
City group 1
I
II
III
27,944
4, 769
1, 470
1,705
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
14
5
14
82
136
6
2
12
14
66
2
6
3
0.1
0.2
0.4
.2
2
15
13
53
57
0.2
.l
.2
1.0
1.7
.3
.3
1.4
.2
1.0
.8
3.1
3.3
$1,650 and under $l,750-_- _ ________ _
_
$1,750 and under $1,850______________ _
$1,850 and under $1,950_____ _
____
$1,950 and under $2,050___ _
_ _ ___ __
$2,050 and under $2,150.__________
477
442
590
577
2,132
351
90
217
121
1, 683
68
147
189
145
251
58
205
184
311
198
6.0
5.6
7.4
7.3
26.8
7.4
1.9
4.6
2.5
35.3
4.6
10.0
12.8
9.9
17.1
3.4
12.0
10.8
18.2
11.6
$2,150 and under $2,250--. __ _______ __
____
$2,250 and under $2,350___ ________
_____ _
$2,350 and under $2,450___ _
$2,450 and under $2,550--.
__ _ ___ _
$2,550 and under $2,650_________ ______ _
1,941
420
133
410
101
1,162
247
59
332
38
354
112
45
58
20
425
61
29
20
43
24.4
5.3
1.7
5.1
1.3
24.4
5.2
1.2
7.0
.8
24.1
7.6
3.1
3.9
1.3
24.9
3.6
1.7
1.2
2.5
140
110
19
71
130
120
88
8
52
4 101
10
14
1
9
615
10
8
10
10
1.8
1.4
.2
.9
1.6
2.5
1.8
.2
1.1
2.0
.7
.9
.1
.7
1.0
.6
Under $1,250____________________________
$1,250 and under $1,350__ ______________
$1,350 and under $1,450__. ___
___
$1,450 and under $1,550.-. _ _ _ _ _
$1,550 and under $1,650_____ ________ _
$2,650 and under $2,750. __ _ __________ _
$2,750 and under $2,850____ _____ _____
$2,850 and under $2,950____ _
______
$2,950 and under $3,050_________
___ _ .
$3,050 and over________ ________________
6
14
(3)
.5
.6
.6
.8
1 Group I includes cities having a population of 100,000 or more; group II, cities having a population of
50,000 and under 100,000; and group III, cities having a population of 25,000 and under 50,000, based on
U. S. Census of Population for 1930.
2Includes only regular, full-time employees, with the exception of 1 commissioner in Boston.
3 Less than Ho of 1 percent.
4 Includes 1 at $3,080, 1 at $3,120, 6 at $3,130, 7 at $3,148, 1 at $3,150, 6 at $3,250, 1 at $3,273, 3 at $3,300, 7 at
$3,370, 1 at $3,400, 2 at $3,432, 9 at $3,500, 3 at $3,640, 1 at $3,738, 2 at $3,750, 31 at $4,000, 1 at $4,250, 11 at
$4,500, 1 at $4,987, 1 at $5,000, 1 at $5,200, 2 at $5,500, 1 at $6,000, and 1 at $6,500.
3
Includes 2 at $3,100, 1 at $3,238, 1 at $3,300, 1 at $3,340, 3 at $3,500, 2 at $3,600, 3 at $4,000, 1 at $4,500, and
1 at $6,000.
e Includes 2 at $3,100, 2 at $3,190, 2 at $3,200, 1 at $3,400, 1 at $3,458, 1 at $3,500, 1 at $3,515, 1 at $3,600, 1 at
$4,000, 1 at $4,250, and 1 at $4,275.
4
Except for Boston, the population of the cities in this group ranged between 100,234 and 252,981. Boston,
with a population of 781,188, has been included in this group because the data for Boston did not vary suffici
ently from the data for the other cities in the group to justify separate treatment.
EMPLOYEES IN FIRE DEPARTMENTS OF 5 4 NEW ENGLAND CITIES
BY SALARY GROUP AND SIZE OF CITY
PERCENT OF EMPLOYEES
PERCENT OF EMPLOYEES
IOO
80
60
40
N E W ENGLAND CITIES
JULY 1,1 938
20
0
CO
4
SALARIES AND HOURS O'F LABOR, FIRE DEPARTMENTS'
Salaries in Selected Occupations
The differences in annual salaries of the various occupations Within
a fire department were not great (table 2). Starting with the chief,
the salary differences decreased sharply to a point where the occupa
tions including a large majority of the employees (privates, engineers,
drivers, auto mechanics, fire-alarm operators), received approximately
the same average annual salaries. The salary differences between
occupations tended to be greater in large than in the small cities be
cause in the large cities the supervisory occupations entailed greater
responsibilities and consequently received relatively larger salaries
than the lower ranking occupations. Also, as a rule, the same occu
pation received a somewhat higher salary in the large cities than in the
small cities. Here again the differences were most pronounced in the
high-ranking or supervisory occupations. The differences in the
annual salaries of chiefs in groups I, II, and III, for example, were far
greater relatively than the differences in the annual salaries of privates
among the same city groups.
T a b l e 2 . — D istrib u tio n o f fire-d ep a rtm en t em p lo yees in 5 4 N e w E n g la n d c ities , by
selected o ccu p ation s and sala ry g r o u p , J u ly 1 , 1 9 3 8
All occupations
Salary group
All
cities
Chiefs
City group 6
All
cities
City group •
I
II
III
54
Number of cities reporting_________________
Total number of employees_______________ a7,944
13
4,769
12
1,470
29
1,705
14
5
14
82
136
6
2
12
14
66
2
2
15
13
6
3
53
57
477
$1,650 and under $1,750__ __
______ ___
442
$1,750 and under $1,850__ _
___________
590
$1,850 and under $1,950- _ _ ____________
$1,950 and under $2,050 _ _______ _ ______
577
$2,050 and under $2,150___ _______ _________ 2,132
351
90
217
121
1,683
68
147
189
145
251
58
205
184
311
198
1
$2,150 and under $2,250 __ _______________ 1,941
$2,250 and under $2,350__
_ ____________
420
$2,350 and under $2,450 _________ _________
133
410
$2,450 and under $2,550__ ___ ____ _______
$2,550 and under $2,650________________ __
101
1,162
247
59
332
38
354
112
45
58
20
425
61
29
20
43
1
1
3
2
3
1
120
88
8
52
101
10
14
1
9
15
10
8
10
10
14
Under $1,250_____________________________
$1,250 and under $1,350________________ __
$1,350 and under $1,450_____________ _____
$1,450 and under $1,550________ __ ___
$1,550 and under $1,650___ ________________
$2,650 and under $2,750__
____ _____
$2,750 and under $2,850____ _______________
$2,850 and under $2,950__ _ ___ _______ __
$2,950 and under $3,050___ _____ _
___
$3,050 and over___________________________
Average annual salary______ _________
See footnotes at end o f table.
140
110
19
71
130
54
54
I
II
13
13
12
12
29
29
1
1
4
1
1
7
34
III
4
U3
1
»10
1
1
6
io n
_ $2,139 $2,183 $2,101 $2,050 $3,582 $4,611 $3,782 $3,038
5
N E W ENGLAND CITIES
T a b l e 2 . — D istrib u tio n o f fire-d ep a rtm en t em p lo ye es in 5 4 N e w E n g la n d c ities , by
selected o ccu p ation s and sala ry g r o u p , J u l y 1 , 1 9 8 8 —
Assistant or deputy chiefs
Salary group
All
cities
_____ _
Number of cities reporting .
Total number of employees_____ ________
50
86
Assistant deputy chiefs
City group 8
II
I
13
30
All
cities
III
12
18
Continued
25
38
City group1i
I
II
8
8
ur
4
4
4
4
Under $1,250 ...
__________________
$1,250 and under $1,350__ ___
__ ___ .
$1,350 and under $1,450____ _______________
$1,450 and under $1,550____________________
$1,550 and under $1,650__ ______ _________ _
____________
______________
. . . _______ _
_ ______ _
_______ ____
2
1
2
1
1
2
1
2
$2,250____________________
$2,350__
_________ ___
$2,450. ______________ _
$2,550__ _______ ______ __
$2,650__________________ .
4
4
7
7
4
4
2
6
5
3
1
1
1
1
$2,650 and under $2,750_________ ________
$2,750 and under $2,850__________________
$2,850 and under $2,950_________________ .
$2,950 and under $3,050
_______
$3,050 and over _
__________ ___
2
13
1
7
31
2
5
7
2
1
1
1
1
5
12 2
$1,650 and under $1,750 .
$1,750 and under $1,850 __
$1,850 and under $1,950 .
$1,950 and under $2,050
$2,050 and under $2,150__
$2,150 and under
$2,250 and under
$2,350 and under
$2,450 and under
$2,550 and under
Average annual salary
_____ ____
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
13 3
2
1
1
« 1
$2, 789
All
cities
Number of cities reporting
_ _______
Total number of employees__________ _____
1
$2,953 $3, 608 $2, 822 $2. 497 $2, 497
ii 26
Battalion chiefs
Salary group
2
14
78
Captains
City group 6
I
III
II
11
75
3
3
$2, 205
All
cities
52
639
City group 8
I
II
III
13
367
12
1.24
27
148
32
16
8
32
8
118
19
32
18
103
64
6
1
Under $1,250 ...
________________
$1,250 and under $1,350
_ ________
$1,350 and under $1,450__ ______________ __
$1,450 and under $1,550 __ . _________ __
$1,550 and under $1,650.
.
_______
5
5
$1,650 and under $1,750
_ _____
$1,750 and under $1,850
_ _ __
$1,850 and under $1,950.__ ___________ __ .
$1,950 and under $2,050 __ _______________
$2,050 and under $2,150___________________
6
4
17
71
62
6
4
9
7
38
$2,150 and under $2,250 .
__________
$2,250 and under $2,350__ _
____________
$2,350 and under $2,450__
_________ _ _ _
$2,450 and under $2,550__
_ ________
$2,550 and under $2,650___
____ _____
$2,650 and under $2,750 ___
$2,750 and under $2,850. .
$2,850 and under $2,950
$2,950 and under $3,050
_ ______
. . . _____
$3,050 and over
7
1
3
6
1
1
3
6
5
7
7
47
7
7
1
is 4 7
Average annual salary __________________ $3, 295 $3, 329 $2, 444
See footnotes at end o f table.
6
33
29
155
29
115
65
8
34
6
33
10
5
11
6
8
34
$2, 447 $2, 586 $2, 310
$2,217
6
SALARIES AND HOURS OF LABOR, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
T able
D istrib u tio n o f fire-d ep a rtm en t em p lo yees in 5 4 N e w E n g la n d cities , by
selected occu p ation s and sala ry g r o u p , J u l y 1 , 1 9 3 8 — Continued
2 .—
Engineers, fire engine,1
All grades
Lieutenants
Salary group
All
cities
Number of cities reporting--------------------- ..
Total number of employees.- __ ________
Under $1,250_____________________________
$1,250 and under $1,350- ____ ____________
$1,350 and under $1,450-__ _________ _ __
$1,450 and under $1,550___________________
$1,550 and under $1,650____ ____ ___ _______
50
632
City group 8
I
II
13
351
12
135
III
25
146
City group 8
I
III
II
10
116
7
111
10
6
17
16
16
1
4
1
6
6
23
17
8
4
24
20
21
32
29
2
20
20
32
29
2
1
1
5
1
2
2
3
2
2
5
$1,650 and under $1,750____ _________ _ _ __
$1,750 and under $1,850 __ _______ ________
$1,850 and under $1,950 ___________ _______
$1,950 and under $2,050_____ _________ _
$2,050 and under $2,150____ _______________
10
31
71
43
16
16
20
17
$2,150 and under $2,250 __________ ________
$2,250 and under $2,350 ______ __ ____ _
$2,350 and under $2,450 ___
__________ _
$2,450 and under $2,550 ______________ ___
$2,550 and under $2,650 ___________ _______
37
121
45
181
54
5
66
18
161
30
18
18
$2,650 and under $2,750___________________
$2,750 and under $2,850_____ ___ ____ ___ _
$2,850 and under $2,950_______________ _ __
$2,950 and under $3,050 __ _ ________ ___
$3,050 and over _ ___ ___
All
cities
9
34
10
9
38
19
16
1
Average annual salary __ _________________ $2,279 $2,381 $2,168 $2,138 $2,335 $2,351 $1,915
Drivers2
Salary group
All
cities
Privates, all grades
City group 8
I
$2,048
II
All
cities
III
City group 8
I
II
53
5, 551
13
3, 313
12
1,052
28
1,186
7
68
97
7
10
48
12
10
46
39
442
296
412
409
1,949
340
30
128
43
1,600
64
126
134
95
223
38
140
150
271
126
1,691
180
992
115
323
65
376
Average annual salary------------------------------- $2,034 $2,091 $1,939 $1,850 $2,047 $2,070 $2,031
$1,996
Number of cities reporting-------------------------Total number of employees_______________
11
191
4
144
2
4
5
43
Under $1,250
- _______
$1,250 and under $1,350 __ _______
$1,350 and under $1,450
______ - -$1,450 and under $1,550 __ ________ _
$1,550 and under $1,650
_ ________
$1,650 and under $1,750 ________ _______
$1,750 and under $1,850______ ___ __________
$1,850 and under $1,950___ _ ________ ____
$1,950 and under $2,050 ___________ r____
$2,050 and under $2,150___ _ _________ _ _
$2,150 and under $2,250_____ _____ ________
$2,250 and under $2,350______________ ___
$2,350 and under $2,450_________ _______
$2,450 and under $2,550______ ____ _____ _ _
$2,550 and under $2,650____________________
74
4
2
35
2
109
107
2
2
2
39
2
2
III
$2,650 and under $2,750_____ ____ ____ _____
$2,750 and under $2,850 __ ______________
$2,850 and under $2,950_________ __ __ _
$2,950 and under $3,050__ _________ ____
$3,050 and over._
.
_______ _ _ __
See footnotes at end o f table.
7
N E W ENGLAND CITIES
T able
2. —
D istrib u tio n o f fire-d ep a rtm en t em p lo yees in 5 4 N e w E n g la n d c ities , by
selected occup ation s and salary grou p , J u ly l y 1 9 3 8 — Continued
Auto mechanics3
Salary group
Fire alarm operators4
C ity group 6
City group 6
cities
cities
I
Number of cities reporting.
_____. . .
Total number of employees_______ _________
Under $1,250 . . .
_
___ _ ____
$1,250 and under $1,350
$1,350 and under $1,450. _ __
. . . .
$1,450 and under $1,550__
__ _
$1,550 and under $1^650__
__ _ _ . . .
$2,150 and
$2,250 and
$2,350 and
$2,450 and
$2,550 and
$2,250
$2,350
$2,450
$2,550
$2^650
$2,650 and under $2,750
_
_
6
7
7
9
___
_
_ __
$1,750
_ _ _
$1,850.
_ __ __ ___ _
$1,950 _
. _ ___ . . .
$2,050...
_______________
$2,150 __ _ . . . _______ . . .
_____
10
47
I
III
_ __
$1,650 and under
$1,750 and under
$1,850 and under
$1,950 and under
$2,050 and under
under
under
under
under
under
23
63
II
7
2
19
2
10
17
5
6
7
3
4
4
7
1
2
1
1
1
10
1
1
2
1
1
1
9
71
4
4
1
1
3
16
5
5
12
7
12
32
3
5
23
24
10
1
6
14
9
1
6
3
3
8
34
9
34
3
3
3
3
8
1
9
4
3
4
7
9
3
__ $2,086 $2,039 $2,180 $2, 276 $1, 980 $2,129 $1, 923
$1, 724
__ . .
_____
_
26
139
III
7
1
_____
2
_
II
_____
2
1
2
1
1
1
$2,850 and under $2,950
$2,950 and under $3,050
$3,050 and over. _
Average annual salary. _ _ _ _ _ _
__
_
Linemen and groundmen 5
Electricians
Salary group
City group 6
C ity group 6
All
cities
All
cities
II
I
III
I
Number of cities reporting __ __ _________
Total number of employees __ __ __ _ ___
11
29
Under $1,250___________________ ___
_____
$1,250 and under $1,350 _ __
__
$1,350 and under $1,450
$1,450 and under $1,550
$1,550 and under $1,650 __ _
_ __
2
2
1
1
$1,650
$1,750
$1,850
$1,950
$2,050
and
and
and
and
and
$2,150 and
$2,250 and
$2,350 arid
$2,450 and
$2,550 and
under
under
under
under
under
$1,750_
__
$1,850
$1,950
___ _
$2,050 __ _
_ __
$2,150
_ _
under $2,250_______ __ _ _ _ _ _ _
under $2,350 _
__ _
u nd er $2,450
under $2,550
under $2,650
$2,650 and under $2,750
2
9
10
1
2
1
1
$2,750 fynd under $2,850
4
14
2
9
2
1
3
8
6
1
4
7
2
1
1
II
78
11
50
2
2
1
25
III
6
15
8
13
2
1
4
6
13
9
11
5
11
1
1
1
3
3
19
8
8
7
7
3
1
4
5
9
3
1
3
1
1
1
$2,850 and under $2,950
$2,Q50 and under $3,050
$3,050 and over
Average annual salary
_
_________ ____
_________________
See footnotes at end of table.
$2,063 $2,039 $2,231 $1, 918 $2,045 $2,086 $2,035
$1, 899
8
T able
SALARIES AND HOURS OE LABOR, EIRE DEPARTMENTS
2. —
D istrib u tio n o f fire-d ep a rtm en t em p lo ye es in 5Jf. N e w E n g la n d cities , by
selected occu p ation s and salary group, J u ly 1, 1 9 3 8 — Continued
Others
C ity group 6
Salary group
All
cities
I
Number of cities reporting-.
Total number of employees.
54
279
Under $1,250______________
$1,250 and under $1,350____
$1,350 and under $1,450____
$1,450 and under $1,550____
$1,550 and under $1,650____
10
1
II
III
13
182
12
50
29
47
5
2
3
1 ____
7
4
14
5
2
4 ______
12
___
2
15
41
19
31
36
10
15
3
2
4
5
4
3
5
11
13
18
3
14
4
6
5
5
1
2
2
1
7
4
1
5
10
16 15
3
17 2
$1,650 and
$1,750 and
$1,850 and
$1,950 and
$2,050 and
under
under
under
under
under
$1,750
$1,850
$1,950
$2,050
$2,150
$2,150 and
$*>,250 and
$2,350 and
$2,450 and
$2,550 and
under
under
under
under
under
$2,250.
$2,350.
$2,450.
$2,550.
$2,650.
24
27
$2,650 and
$2,750 and
$2,850 and
$2,950 and
$3,050 and
under $2,750.
under $2,850.
under $2,950.
under $3,050.
over_______
8
9
1
15
17
6
25
5
8
9
2
2
Average annual salary.
1 Includes 18 marine engineers in Boston.
2 Includes 6 pilots in Boston.
3 Does not include master and assistant master mechanics.
* Does not include chief fire alarm operators and assistants to the chief operators.
5 Does not include helpers.
6 Group I includes cities having a population of 100,000 or more; group II, cities having a population of
50,000 and under 100,000; group III, cities having a population of 25,000 and under 50,000, all based on U. S.
Census of Population for 1930.
7 Includes only regular, full-time employees, with the exception of 1 commissioner in Boston.
8 Includes 1 at $3,080, 1 at $3,150, 1 at $3,250, 1 at $3,280, 1 at $4,000, 1 at $4,500, 1 at $4.987,1 at $5,000,1 at
$5,200, 2 at $5,500, 1 at $6,000, and 1 at $6,500.
» Includes 1 at $3,238, 1 at $3,340,1 at $3,500, 2 at $3,600, 3 at $4,000,1 at $4,500, and 1 at $6,000.
10 Includes 2 at $3,100, 2 at $3,200, 1 at $3,400, 1 at $3,458, 1 at $3,500,1 at $3,600, 1 at $4,000, 1 at $4,250, and 1
at $4,275.
11 Includes 1 at $3,300, 1 at $3,400, 2 at $3,432, 4 at $3,500, 2 at $3,640, 2 at $3,750, 7 at $4,500, and 7 in Bridge
port ranging from $3,240 to $3,500.
12 Each receives $3,500.
i® Includes 2 at $3,190 and 1 at $3,515.
I4 Receives $3,100.
is Includes 6 at $3,130, 7 at $3,146, 4 at $3,250, and 30 at $4,000.
16 Includes 1 at $3,120, 1 at $3,250, 2 at $3,300, 5 at $3,500, 1 at $3,640, 1 at $3,738, 1 at $4,250, and 3 at $4,500.
17 Includes 1 at $3,100 and 1 at $3,300.
However, the salary ranges for the same occupations in the same
city group show clearly the existence of many exceptions to the
generalization that the annual salaries were higher in the larger cities.
Even in the case of chiefs, whose annual salaries showed the greatest
differences resulting from the size of the city, some chiefs in group III
cities received more than some in group I cities. These exceptions
indicate that factors other than size of the city have a direct bearing
on the prevailing salaries in a given city. The proximity of the city
to a large metropolitan center and the ability of the city to pay high
salaries are very important factors. Fall River, though one of the
largest cities in New England, paid salaries below the average group
9
N EW ENGLAND CITIES
III cities primarily because of financial difficulties arising from the
collapse of its chief industry, textiles. On the other hand, Brookline,
Mass., a group III city and one of the wealthiest communities in the
country, paid above the average of group I cities. Again, two group
II cities paid the second and third highest rates to first grade privates
in all New England, while five group II and six group III cities paid
their first-grade privates more than Boston, the largest city in
New England.
Salaries of Privates
Privates constituted 70 percent of all employees and received 67
percent of the total salaries in the 54 New England fire departments.
Approximately one-third of all privates received between $1,350 and
$2,050 a year and two-thirds received between $2,050 and $2,350.
In the large cities a greater proportion of the privates were in the
upper salary brackets. Seventy-eight percent of the privates in
group I cities, as against 52 percent in group II, and 42 percent in
group III cities, received between $2,050 and $2,250 a year.
Ninety-two percent of all privates were first-grade privates and
the rest, for the most part, were in the second and fifth grades. A
somewhat greater proportion of the privates in the small cities were
first-grade privates, with fully 96 percent in this group against 92 per
cent in group I and 90 percent in group II cities. Nevertheless, only
2 percent of all privates in group I and group II cities, compared with
7 percent in group III cities, received under $1,650 a year.
T a b l e 3 . — D istrib u tio n o f 'privates in fire departm ents o f 5 4 N e w E n g la n d c ities , b y
sala ry grou p and grade, J u ly 1, 1 9 3 8
All grades
Percentage
Number
Salary group
C ity group 1
City group 1
All
cities
All
cities
I
All groups . _ _________ _ ___
$1,360 and under
$1,450 and under
$1,550 and under
$1,650 and under
$1,750 and under
$1,450 __ __ _ __
$1,550_____________
$1,650_____________
$1,750______ ______
$1,850_____________
$1,850 and
$1,950 and
$2,050 and
$2,150 and
$2,250 and
$1,950_____________
$2,050_____________
$2,150_____________
$2,250____ _________
$2,350_______ - ___
under
under
under
under
under
See footnote at end of table.
262138—40------3
5,551
3,313
7
68
97
442
296
7
10
48
340
30
412
409
1,949
1,691
180
128
43
1,600
992
115
II
1,052
III
I
II
III
1,186
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
12
10
64
126
46
39
38
140
.1
1.2
1.8
8.0
5.3
.2
.3
1.4
10.3
.9
1.1
1.0
6.1
12.0
3.9
3.3
3.2
11.8
134
95
223
323
65
150
271
126
376
7.4
7.4
35.1
30.5
3.2
3.9
1.3
48.3
29.9
3.5
12.7
9.0
21.2
30.7
6.2
12.7
22.8
10.6
31.7
10
SALARIES AND HOURS OF LABOR, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
T a b l e 3. — D istrib u tio n o f privates in fire departm ents o f 5 4 N e w E n g la n d c ities , b y
sala ry grou p and gradef J u ly
i,
1938—
Continued
Number receiving classified salary, in—
Second grade
First grade
Third grade
Salary group
C ity group 1
City group i
All
cities
All
cities
I
All groups----------------
-------------------- 5,131 3,050
44
28
305
257
II
III
947 1,134
$1,450 and under
$1,550 and under
$1,650 and under
$1,750 and under
$1,550--------------------$1,650--------------------$1,750--------------------$1,850______________
221
58
125
$1,850 and under
$1,950 and under
$2,050 and under
$2 150 and under
$2*250 and under
362
122
$1,950----------------322
$2,050--------------------$2,150______________ 1,944 1, 600
992
$2,250
_ _ ______ 1, 689
115
$2,350
_ . _ __ 180
95
64
219
321
65
143
All
cities
I
II
III
53
68
22
44
28
26
132
10
11
5
7
145
258
125
376
35
35
69 "43" 15
4
3
2
2
I
II
81
43
14
24
7
7
1
2
7
7
9
5
13
31
2
5
10
11
1
11
4
1
10
10
3
C ity group 1
3
III
30~
6
5
2
"’ 2"
1
Num ber receiving classified salary, in—
Fourth grade
Fifth grade
Probationary
Salary group
C ity group i
All
cities
All
cities
I
All groups
- --
__________ ____
$1,350 and under $1,450 _ __ __ __
$1,450 and under $1,550 - ______ ____
$1,550 and under $1,650 - _____ _
$1,650 and under $1,750
_ ______
$1,750 and under $1,850______________
$1,850 and under $1,950________ __
$1,950 and under $2,050 ____________
$2,050 and under $2,150- _________ _
$2,150 and under $2,250 _____________
$2,250 and under $2,350 - ___________
39
5
5
10
1
4
14
10
II
23
III
C ity group 1
I
II
All
cities
II
C ity group 1
I
6
147 147
10
10
5
38 38
109 109
10
10
II
III
5
10
1
4
14
i Group I includes cities having a population of 100,000 or more; group II, cities having a population of
50,000 and under 100,000; and group III, cities having a population of 25,000 and under $50,000, based on
U. S. Census of Population for 1930.
Hours and Working Conditions
Average Hours and Days on Duty per Week
The working hours in the fire departments of the 54 New England
cities fell into 4 general systems of operation according to the type of
work performed: (1) Single-platoon system, (2) double-platoon sys
tem, (3) continuous duty, and (4) other arrangements of hours, gen
erally approximating those of private industry.
A “ platoon” is a system of assignment of firemen to duty at stated
hours so as to provide continuous protection for the city. It is
analogous to the shift systems in industries that operate 24 hours a day.
The single-platoon system requires a 24-hour shift; each fire
man stays on duty continuously for 2 or more days, depending upon
NEW ENGLAND CITIES
11
the variation of the system in use in the particular locality, and then
has a day off. The off days are so arranged that the fire department
is equally staffed at all hours.
Under the double-platoon system the firemen are divided into two
groups which work day and night tours of duty. While one group is at
work, the other is off duty. The firemen, however, do not work on the
same tour constantly but are shifted at regular intervals from day
duty to night duty. Usually before shifting from day to night duty,
or vice versa, one platoon stays on duty for 24 hours to effect the
change, and the other platoon is off for 24 hours. At the next period
of shift from day to night duty, conditions are reversed; the first
platoon is off and the second is on. Since each full day off is balanced
by a full day on, both platoons average 12 hours a day for 7 days a
week, or 84 hours a week. Under some variations of the double
platoon system the firemen are given extra days off which are not
balanced or compensated for by time on duty. An extra day off of
this type reduces the workweek from 84 hours to 72 hours. All varia
tions of the double-platoon system used in the 54 New England cities
covered in this report averaged 84 hours on duty per week. All the
fire departments operating under the double-platoon system do not
shift at same intervals but have different shift periods; some shift on
the second day, some on the third day, etc. This results in a varying
number of days on duty per week for the same average number of
hours on duty per week.
Almost every fire department has a small number of employees not
included under the platoon system. These employees fall into 2
groups, those on “ continuous” duty and “ other.” In most of the fire
departments the chief and a few of his immediate assistants are subject
to call any moment and are therefore considered to be on duty con
tinuously. The “ other” group includes mostly nonuniformed em
ployees such as clerks and maintenance men who are not required
to fight fires.
In the fire departments of the 54 New England cities almost ninetenths, 87 percent, of all the employees were under the double-platoon
system which averaged 84 hours on duty per week. Six percent, 501, of
the employees were under the single-platoon system with an average
of 112 to 144 hours on duty per week. Of these 501 men under the
single platoon, 61 percent were on duty an average of 112 hours a
week, 24 percent 126 hours a week, 11 percent 134 hours a week, and
4 percent 144 hours a week. Those on continuous duty, mostly
chiefs, represented a very small proportion, 0.6 percent, of the total
number of employees. The hours of the remaining 6 percent of the
employees were closely related to those prevailing in private industry
or the rest of the city government departments. These employees
12
SALARIES AND HOURS' OR LABOR, EIRE DEPARTMENTS
were mostly in the fire-prevention, apparatus, fire-alarm, and clerical
divisions. The average working hours for this “ other” group varied
between 41 and 60 per week, with a general average of 47.5
T a b l e 4 . — A v era g e hours and d ays on d u ty per week in fire d epa rtm ents o f 54
N e w E n g la n d cities, J u l y 1 , 1 9 3 8
J
7.0
Percentage of
employees
Number of employees
C ity group 1
C ity group 1
All
cities
I
III
II
I
II
III
All cities
168
Number of cities
reporting
All cities
Aver
age
days
on
duty
per
week
C ity group 1
I
II
III
j
System of operation
A ver
age
hours
on
duty
per
week
All systems______________
Continuous duty _ ___ ..
Single platoon 3
On 2 days, off
On 3 days, off
On 4 days, off
On 6 days, off
1 d ay.
1 d ay. __
1 d a y__
1 d a y__
Two-platoon, regular 4
On 24 hours, off 24
hours
Shift 3d day__________
Shift 4th d a y .. ______
Shift 6th d a y_________
Shift 7th d a y -------------Other 8._ _ ________ . . . _
27,944 4, 769 1, 470 1,705 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
35
12
4
1
2
1
112
126
134
144
4.7
5.3
5. 6
6.0
84
84
84
84
84
3. 5
5.8
6.1
6.4
6.5
3
32 11
5
3 "~ 2
2 ---
47.3
5.8
43
7
2
1
16
2
2
1
49
21
501
302
121
57
21
8
20
.6
322
201
121
179
101
6.3
3.8
1.5
.7
.3
57
21
.4
.5
1.2
21.9 10.4
13.7 5.9
8.2
3. 3
1. 2
6, 912 4, 438 1,056 1, 418 87.0 93.1 71.9 83. 2
12
6
2
1
10
142
3
15 5, 615 3, 913
358
3
1
571 525
226
1
21
482
142 1.8
8. 3
642 1,060 70.7 82.1 43.7 62.2
207 151 4.5
14.1 8.9
46 7.2 11.0
2.7
207
19 2.8
14.1 1.1
310 ► 84
88
6.1
6.5
5.7
5.2
1 Group I includes cities having a population of 100,000 or more; group II, cities having a population of
50,000 and under 100,000; group III, cities having a population of 25.000 and under 50,000, based on U. S.
Census of Population for 1930.
2 Includes on ly regular, full-time employees, with the exception of 1 commissioner in Boston.
3 The average number of hours on duty per week for employees in each variation of the single-platoon
system is arrived at b y dividing the total number of hours on duty per year for each variation b y 52.143.
The average number of days on duty per week for each variation is arrived at b y dividing the total number
of days on duty per year b y 52.143.
4 Under each variation of the regular 2-platoon system the employees work in 2 groups, 1 group is on duty
while the other is off duty. Over a period of days, therefore, each group is on duty as m any hours as the
other, or 12 hours a day and 84 hours a week. Each variation of the 2-platoon system, however, spreads
these 84 hours into different numbers of days on duty per week. The average number of days on duty
per week for each variation is arrived at b y dividing the number of days on duty per year b y 52.143.
« The average number of hours and days per week is arrived at b y dividing the total weekly man-hours
and man-days b y the total number of employees under “ other.”
As shown in table 4 the working hours were shorter and more uni
form in the large cities. A greater proportion of the employees in
these cities were under the double-platoon system and in the “ other”
category. In group I cities, out of every 100 employees 93 were on
duty an average of 84 hours a week under the double-platoon system,
and approximately 7 had an average of 45.3 hours under “ other” as
compared with 72 and 6 out of every 100 employees having similar
hours in group II cities, and 83 and 5 out of every 100 employees
having similar hours in group III cities. Further, the group I cities
had no employees under the single-platoon system and a very small
percentage under “ continuous” system.
The average days on duty per week varied with the platoon system
under which the department operated. One or two variations, how5 See appendix table E for detailed analysis.
13
NEW ENGLAND CITIES
ever, prevailed under each platoon system. Of the 501 employees
under the single-platoon system, 423, or 84 percent, were on duty an
average of about 5 days per week. Of the 6,912 employees under the
double-platoon system, 86 percent were on duty an average of about
6 days per week. The days on duty for most of the remaining em
ployees working under a platoon system varied between an average
of 5% and 6% days per week.
In the matter of days worked, the group I cities showed greatest
uniformity and fewer days on duty per week. All of the group I
cities operated under two variations of the double-platoon system.
One of these variations averaged almost 6 days per week and included
82 percent of all employees. The group II cities operated under two
variations of the single-platoon system and three variations of the
double-platoon system. Forty-four percent of the employees in group
II cities worked under a variation of the double-platoon system which
averaged almost 6 days on duty per week. In group III cities there
were a greater number of variations of the two systems. The single
platoon system had three variations and the double-platoon system
had five. The average of almost 6 days per week, however, predom
inated and included nearly three-fourths of the employees under the
double-platoon system, and three-fifths of all employees.
Perquisites Supplied to Firemen
Table 5 shows the items supplied to firemen. All of the 54 cities
supplied sleeping quarters for men on night duty, and all but 1 supplied
the necessary beds, bedding, linen, and laundry. A large majority of
the cities supplied helmets and a smaller majority supplied rubber
coats. Little less than one-half supplied rubber boots, and only 7
supplied the uniforms.
T
able
5. —
P erq u isites supplied, to firem en in 5 4 N e w E n g la n d c ities , J u ly 1, 1 9 8 8
Number of cities supplying—
City group 1
Allcities___ ___
__
_ _
_____
Group I _____ ___ ____
_____ __
Group II
_ ______
Group II I __________ ____ _______________
N um
ber of
cities
Sleeping
quarters
for men
on night
duty
Beds,
bedding,
linen,
laundry
54
54
53
13
12
29
13
12
29
13
12
28
R ub
ber
coats
Rub
ber
boots
40
31
20
7
7
10
23
6
6
19
3
4
13
4
Hel
mets
Uni
forms
3
1 Group I includes cities having a population of 100,000 or more; group II, cities having a population of
50,000 and under 100,000; and group III, cities having a population of 25,000 and under 50,000, based on U. S.
Census of Population for 1930.
14
SALARIES AND HOURS OF LABOR, FIRE DEPARTMENTS'
Vacations With Pay
The fire departments of 53 cities employing 99.5 percent of the
fire-department employees covered by the study gave vacations with
pay. Only 1 small city failed to give any vacations with pay. The
average vacation period with pay for the 53 cities was a little over 14
days a year, with more than four-fifths of all the employees receiving
a vacation of exactly 14 days.
Each of the 3 city groups had almost the same average number of
days of vacation: Group I cities had an average of 14.2 days; group II
cities, an average of 14.4 days; and group III cities, an average of 14.2
days. In the large cities, .however, the number of vacation days was
more uniform and never less than 14. Group I cities had 3 vacation
periods, 14, 15, and 16 da}^s, with 86 percent of the employees receiv
ing 14 days. In group II cities vacation periods ranged from 14 to
30 days; 82 percent of the employees received 14 days, and 15 percent
received 16 days a year. Group III cities showed the greatest spread,
from none to 21 days, with 72 percent of the employees receiving 14
days a year.
T
able
6. —
N u m b e r o f em p lo ye es receiving specified vacations with
departm ents o f 5 4 N e w E n g la n d c ities , J u l y 1, 1 9 8 8
Total
num
N um ber of
ber of em
No
10
cities ploy vaca
ees
tion days
C ity group 1
All cities_______________
54 2 7,944
Group I
Group II
Group III
13
12
29
__
_____ ___
_ ----------
4, 769
1,470
1,705
38
38
18
18
pay
in fire
Number of employees having—
12
days
13
days
42
31
31
42
15
days
16
days
18
days
21
days
6, 545
510
621
32
105
2
4,114
1,211
1,220
423
232
224
165
32
1
104
2
14
days
87
30
days
1 Group I includes cities having a population of 100,000 or more; group II, cities having a population of
50,000 and under 100,000; and group III, cities having a population of 25,000 and under 50,000. based on U. S.
Census of Population for 1930.
1 Includes only regular full-time employees, with the exception of 1 commissioner in Boston.
Promotions of Lower-Grade Privates
Some system of automatic promotion for lower-grade privates
existed in 42 of the 54 cities. In 38 of these cities promotion was made
after a period of 1 year of service. Six months of service was required
in 1 city of each size group. In the group III city, this period applied
to only the initial promotion— that from the third to the second grade.
The advancement to the first grade required an additional year of
service.
Four cities advanced their privates in accordance with civil service
regulations, and four by appointment. Four cities had only one
classification for their privates.
15
N E W ENGLAND CITIES
T
a b l e
7. —
P r o m o tio n o f low er-grade privates in fire departm ents o f 5 4 N e w E n gla n d
cities , J u ly 1 , 1 9 3 8
Number of cities with prom otion—
Total
number
of
privates
Number
of cities
_____________
5, 551
54
3
38
Group I- ______ _____- -Group II-_ __ -- - ___ __
Group H I ---------------------------- --
3,313
1,052
1,186
13
12
29
1
1
i1
7
10
21
C ity group
All cities
____
i 6 months 3d to 2d grade.
After 6 After 1 After 2
months year
years
1
1
All one
By
By
grade
civil appoint
service ment
4
4
3
2
1
2
4
1
3
1 year 2d to 1st grade.
Percentage Distribution of Employees and Salaries
A ll Employees
Of every 100 employees, 93 were in the fire-fighting division. Of
these, 3 were chiefs, assistant chiefs, assistant deputy chiefs, and
battalion chiefs; 8 were captains; 8 lieutenants; and 74 were privates,
drivers, and engineers. In the larger cities the higher-ranking occu
pations constituted a smaller percentage of the total number of
employees than they did in the smaller cities. Privates, drivers, and
engineers, on the other hand, constituted a somewhat larger percentage
of the employees in the large than in the small cities.
Comparison of the percentage distribution of the employees and
salaries, by divisions, shows a close relationship. In the 54 cities the
fire-fighting divisions constituted 93 percent of the employees and
received 93 percent of the salaries; the apparatus divisions constituted
2 percent of the employees and received 2 percent of the salaries; the
fire-alarm divisions had 4 percent of the employees and received 4
percent of the salaries; and the clerical divisions constituted 0.6 percent
of the employees and received 0.4 percent of the salaries.
The similarity in the percentage distribution of the total salaries
and number of employees of the fire-fighting divisions is the result of
the counterbalancing of. the data for the various occupations within
these divisions. Privates, drivers, and engineers constituted 74
percent of all employees and received 71 percent of the salaries.
This 3-percent difference was absorbed by the higher-ranking occu
pations. Chiefs constituted 0.7 percent of all employees but received
1 percent of the salaries. From this point onward the difference
between the percentage of salaries and employees in a given occupa
tion decreased gradually with the decrease in the rank of the occupa
tion. Lieutenants, who constituted 8.0 percent of all employees,
received 8.5 percent of the total salaries. The survey indicated also
that the relative difference between the percentage of total salaries
16
SALARIES AND HOURS O'F LABOR, EIRE DEPARTMENT'S
received by a given occupation and the percentage of total number
of employees in that occupation was somewhat greater in the large
than in the small cities, particularly among the higher-ranking
occupations.
T
a b l e
8 . - — Percentage distribu tion s o f em p lo yees and salaries in
specified d iv isio n s in
fire departm ents o f 5 4 N e w E n g la n d c ities , J u ly 1, 1 9 3 8
Percentage of employees
Percentage of salaries
City group 2
Division 1 and occupation
C ity group 2
All
cities
All
cities
I
II
III
I
II
III
All divisions____________________
100.0
100.0
100.0
500.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Fire fighting-----------------------------Chiefs______________________
Assistant or deputy chiefsAssistant deputy chiefs 3____
Battalion chiefs____________
Captains___________________
Lieutenants________________
Privates, drivers, engineers 4
92.8
.7
1.1
.3
1.0
8.0
8.0
73.7
92.6
.3
.6
.2
1.6
7.7
7.4
74.8
92.5
.8
1.2
.6
.2
8.5
9.2
72.0
93.8
1.7
2.2
.4
92.6
.6
1.0
.2
2.4
9.1
8.0
71.3
92.4
1.5
1.6
.8
.2
9.3
9.5
69.5
94.1
2.5
2.7
.4
8.7
8.6
72.2
93.0
1.1
1.5
.4
1.5
9.2
8.5
70.8
Fire prevention________________
Apparatus_____________________
Fire alarm______________________
Clerical________________________
.5
2.1
4.0
.6
.5
2.7
3.5
.7
.8
1.3
5.2
.2
.3
1.2
4.4
.3
.5
2.1
4.0
.4
.5
2.6
3.7
.6
.9
1.4
5.1
.2
.4
1.2
4.1
.2
9.4
8.9
70.2
1 In some cities the employees listed in the fire-fighting division are assigned to other divisions. In this
release these men are included in the fire-fighting division and the divisions to which they are assigned are
shown in the appendix tables. In some cities, repairs, inspection, and fire-alarm work is under separate
city bureaus. The employees of these separate city bureaus are not included in this release. For these
reasons the number of employees listed in the table under the fire prevention, apparatus, fire alarm, and
clerical divisions vary widely among the various cities, especially among the smaller cities.
2 Group I includes cities having a population of 100,000 or more; group II, cities having a population of
50,000 and under 100,000; and group III, cities having a population of 25,000 and under 50,000, based on U. S.
Census of Population for 1930.
3 Includes 3 aides to the commissioner and 3 secretaries in city group I, 3 secretaries in group II, and 2
secretaries in city group III.
4 Privates, drivers, and engineers are combined because inm any cities, especially the small ones, privates
act as drivers and engineers. This group also includes 6 pilots and 18 marine engineers in Boston.
Supervisory Em ployees
An important fact revealed by the data on salaries is that 20 percent
of all employees in the 54 fire departments held supervisory positions
and received 24 percent of the total salaries. The difference was even
less in group II and group III cities than in group I cities. In group
I cities, the ratio of supervisory salaries to employees was 1.2 compared
with the ratio of 1.1 in group II and group III cities.
17
N E W ENGLAND CITIES
T a b l e 9 . — N u m b er and salaries o f su p erv iso ry em p lo yees 1 as percentage o f total fir edepartm ent em p lo yees and total sala ries , in 6 4 N e w E n g la n d c ities , J u ly 1, 1 9 3 8
City group 2
Item
Supervisory employees as percentage of all employees__________
Supervisory salaries as percentage of total salaries _____________
Ratio of salaries to employees
_ _
_______
All
cities
20.4
23.8
1.17
I
II
18.8
22.8
1. 21
22.0
24.7
1.12
III
23.5
26.0
1.11
1 Supervisory employees are those employees in all divisions who have others working under them. The
group includes the chiefs, assistant chiefs, assistant deputy chiefs, battalion chiefs, captains, lieutenants,
marshals or wardens, superintendents, chief engineers, chief fire alarm operators, assistants to these officers
who also supervise the activities of others, master mechanics and chief clerks, if they have others working
under their direction, and others who direct other employees.
2 Group I includes cities having a population of 100,000 or more; group II, cities having a population of
50,000 and under 100,000; and group III, cities having a population of 25,000 and under 50,000, based on U. S.
Census of Population for 1930.
Distribution of Employees and Per Capita Salary Cost of
Fire Protection
When the total salaries were put on a per capita basis it was found
that the cost per person was $4.16 6 for the population of group I
cities, $3.62 for group II cities, and $3.24 for group III cities. This
higher per capita cost in the larger cities is accounted for by two fac
tors: (1) The somewhat higher salaries paid, and (2) the larger num
ber of firemen per 10,000 inhabitants. For every 10,000 inhabitants,
the fire departments in the group I cities had 19 employees; in the
group II cities, 17 employees; and in the group III cities, 16 employees.6
6 These figures are based on the U. S. Census of Population for 1930 and are presented primarily to facili
tate relative comparisons rather than to give actual figures. Therefore, the errors introduced into the per
capita figures b y the changes in population from 1930 to 1938 do not affect appreciably any of the above
conclusions.
Appendix
The listing of cities of 25,000 or more in the New England Division
with their populations, ratios of employees to population, and per
capita salary costs is shown in table A. The New England Division
includes the States of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
T a b l e A . — F ir e departm ent em p lo yees and sala ry costs i n relation to po p u la tio n
in cities with a p o p u la tio n o f 2 5 ,0 0 0 or m o r e 1 in N e w E n g la n d S ta tes , J u l y 1 ,1 9 8 8
Group and city
All cities __ _
_ _____ _
___________________________ ____
Group I—cities of 100,000 or more. _ ........... ............. ........................
B’oston, M a s s .______ . __________ ______ ________ _____ _ . . .
Bridgeport, Conn________________ ________________ ______ _
Cambridge, Mass . . . _______ __ __ ___________ ____ _____ _
Fall River, Mass_________
________ . . . ____ ______________
Hartford, C o n n _____ __ __________
___ ____ ______ ______ _
Lowell, M ass. . . ________ ______________ ___ ____________
Lynn, M ass. _ ___________________ _ __ _
_ _____ _
...
New Bedford, M ass____
____ ___ _____ . . . _____ _
New Haven, Conn_______________ ______ __ _ _ ______ ____
Providence, R . I ________ ___ ___ ______________________ . . .
Somerville, Mass_______ _____________ ______ _ _______ ____
Springfield, M a s s _____ . . . ______________ _____ ____ . . . .
Worcester, Mass. _ _______ __
____________
Group II—cities of 50,000 and under 100,000_________ ________ ____
Brockton, Mass______ _________________ ____________________
Holyoke, Mass___ _ _ ______ __ . . . ____ ____ . . . . . . _____
Lawrence, Mass_______________________________________________
Malden, M ass. ______________ . . . . . _____ ______ ______
Manchester, N . H _ _ ___ _____________________ _ . . . . . . ._
Medford, Mass . . . . _______ __ . _____________________ ____
New Britain, Conn___________________ ._ __________________
Newton, M a s s ..____ __ __________________________ _ _ _ _ _ _
Pawtucket, R. I _____ __ _ ___ _________ ____ _
______
Portland, M aine______________ _________ ___________ ________
Quincy, Mass------ --------------------------------------- ----------- ------- ------W aterbury, Conn_____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
__ __________
_ _
Group III—cities of 25,000 and under 50,000. ----------- ----- ------Arlington, Mass A . . ___
_ _________
_ _ _ _ _ _ ___ __ _
Bangor, M aine.. --------------------------------------------------- ---------------Beverly, Mass __ _ _ ___ _ ________ ____ _______________ , _ __
Bristol, Conn ___ _________ _
___ ____ ______ _____ __
Brookline, Mass.3_____ _____ _ ___ _ ________________ _______
Central Falls, R. I___ _ _____ __ _ _ ________ _____ _____
_
Chelsea, Mass___ ___________ _______________ .__ _. ______
Chicopee, Mass _ ___ ____________ _ _____ __________ __ ___
___ _ _ ___________ _____ _
_
Concord, N . H ________
Cranston, R. I
_
_ _ _ _ _ ________ _ ______ _ __ ______
East Providence, R. I.3_______________ _ __________ _______
Everett, M ass____ _____
_ ________ _______________ ______
Fitchburg, M ass.. ___ _ _____ _ _ ________________ __ _ _
Haverhill, M a s s.__ _ ___ _________ ________ ________ _____ _
Lewiston, M aine_________ _
_____ ____ _________ ______ __
Meriden, Conn_._ _ __________ ___________________ __ _______
Nashua, N. H ______
____ _________ __ ________ ____ _____
N ew London, C onn_______
___ _____ __ ____________ ___ ___
Newport, R . I ____ _____________________________________ ___
Norwalk, Conn_______ _. _ ______________ ________ __ ___
Pittsfield, Mass_____________ ________________________________
Revere, Mass. _ __ _ ____
_ __ ________
______ _
_
Salem, Mass______________________ _____________
____ ___
Stamford, Conn__________
_______ _ __ ________ _
___ _ _
Taunton, Mass__________ __ _ __________ ____ ________________
Torrington, Conn __ ___ _ __________________________________
Waltham, Mass _____________
________ _____ ___________
__
Watertown, Mass.3..
_ _
____________ __ _________
Woonsocket, R. I . _ _ _____ _______ __ _____________ _________
Popula
tion 2
4,431,657
2, 500, 799
781,188
146, 716
113,643
115, 274
164,072
100, 234
102, 320
112, 597
162, 655
252, 981
103, 908
149, 900
195, 311
853, 234
63, 797
56, 537
85, 068
58,036
76, 834
59, 714
68,128
65, 276
77,149
70,810
71, 983
99, 902
1,077, 624
36,094
28, 749
25,086
28.451
47,490
25, 898
45, 816
43,930
25, 228
42,911
29, 995
48,424
40, 692
48, 710
34, 948
38,481
31,463
29, 640
27, 612
36, 019
49, 677
35, 680
43, 353
46, 346
37, 355
26, 040
39, 247
34, 913
49, 376
Employees
per 10,000
Per capita
salary cost
18
19
20
16
22
15
19
17
22
17
18
19
17
23
19
17
21
22
16
18
14
17
15
17
11
19
17
21
16
14
24
24
12
29
7
22
16
8
10
10
21
20
19
11
12
15
8
17
11
12
20
13
15
15
$3.83
4.16
4.33
3.66
5.09
2.71
4.36
3.36
4.81
2.96
4.05
4.09
3.84
5.29
4. 32
3.62
4.02
4.98
3. 58
4.21
2.68
3.93
3.03
3. 72
2.02
3.40
3. 58
4. 57
3.24
3.12
3.69
4.81
2.44
6.74
1.19
5.06
3. 58
1.64
1.72
1.98
4.82
3. 85
3.90
1.81
2. 66
2. 74
1. 51
3.14
2. 33
2. 53
3. 84
2. 78
3.20
3. 08
8
1.59
13
2. 79
15
3. 36
23
4.27
1 Includes all New England cities and urban townships with a population of 25,000 or more except the
town of West Haven, Conn.
2 Based on U. S. Census of Population for 1930.
3 Tow n, classified as urban under special rule of the U. S. Bureau of the Census.
19
20
T
SALARIES AND HOURS OF LABOR, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
able
B. —
N u m b er o f em p lo yees and an n u al salaries in fire depa rtm ents o f each
J u ly l t
Massachu
setts
Connecticut
Division and occupation
Total
em
ploy-
Bridge
port
No.
All occupations 2
Commissioner.
Fire fighting:
Chiefs______
Assistant or deputy chiefs____________
Assistant deputy chiefs and other
executive assistants:
Aides to chiefs_____________________
Aides to commissioner..
Executive secretaries...
Battalion or district chiefs. .
10
37
43
3
3
75
18
Lieutenants.
351
19
Assistant engineers, fire...
Engineers, high pressure..
Engineers, motor squad._
Drivers______________________
Privates—
1st grade________________
2d grade_________________
3d grade_________________
4th grade________________
5th grade________________
Probationary____________
Fire prevention:
Marshals or wardens________
Chief inspectors_____________
Inspectors___________________
Miscellaneous:
Chemists_________________________
Constables________________________
Apparatus:
Superintendents of machinery_________
Assistant superintendents of machinery.
Master mechanics and assistant master
mechanics__________________________
Sal
ary No.
See footnotes at end of table.
No.
Sal
ary
1,543
2,880
to
3,060
2,460
to
2,700
$5,500
$6,000
6.500
4,500
3,400
4.500
3.500
3,000
2,855
2,J
2,500
2, 300
3.000
4.000
2.500
2,500
2,700
2,375
2,225
2,290
2.500
6
2,200
2,300
2,200
2,100
3,000
2
2,600
2.500
3
2,460
to
2,580
62
2,350
2
12
11
3,050
53
43
10
147
10
2,200
2,300
2,200
2,200
138
2,200
2,300
10
2,108
2,100
1,740
1,560
109
10
3
3,500
1,700
1,600
4,500
2
2,108
2,700
(3)
2,500
U
3,000
3, 500
:
Machinists.
Auto mechanics____
General mechanics:
Mechanics_____
Batterymen.
Carpenters..
Laddermen..
Masons____________________
Painters___________________
Repairers, leading_________
Wheelwrights_____________
Sal
ary
Boston
$7,000
$5,500
' 3,240
to
3,500
367
Engineers, fire..
No.
New
Haven
310
4, 769 233
Captains__________________
Pilots_________________ _____________ _
Engineers, marine—
1st grade_________ _______________
2d grade__________________________
3d grade__________________________
Engineers, fire engine:
M otor apparatus engineers_______
Assistant motor apparatus engi
neers___________________________
Engineers in charge_______________
Sal
ary
Hartford
2,300
(3)
1
1
1
1
2,700
1,600
3
2,300
2.500
1.872
2,184
1, 716
1.872
5
: i
22
: i
4.500
3,000
1.872
1,900
2,100
1,872
2,184
2,028
1,950
21
N E W ENGLAND CITIES
of 13 N ew England cities having a 'population of 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 or more,1 by occupations,
1938
Rhode
Island
Massachusetts—Continued
Cam
bridge
Fall
River
Lowell
Lynn
New Bed
ford
Somer
ville
Springfield
Worces
ter
Provi
dence
SalSalSalSal
Sal
Sal
Sal
Sal
No. Salary No. ary No. ary No. ary No. ary No. ary No. ary No. ary No. ary
?53
176
170
?,28
191
179
349
363
474
1
2
1 $4,500
4 3,600
1 $3,273
1 2,618
1 $3,080
1 2,794
1 $3, 250
1 2,850
1 $3,150
1 2,538
1 $4,000
1 3,300
1 $4, 987
2 3,640
1 $5,000
2 3,750
1 $5,200
2 3, 432
3
4
3 2,338
3 2,595
5 2,650
3 2,286
2 3,000
6 3,130
1 3,000
4 3, 250
7 3,146
5
6
7
8
16 3,000
16 2,000
16 2,129
18 2,500
16 2,024
6 2, 750
23 2,694
58 2, 750
40 2, 503
9
18 2,750
16 1, 829
17 2,031
18 2,250
20 1,900
23 2, 500
23 2,494
11 2, 550
42 2, 303
10
I -
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
1 1,829
3 2,483
2 2,257
2 2,239
18
2 2,433
2 1,922
19
20
21
22
35 1,769
147 2,190 128 1,702 122 1,922 160 2,100
2 2,000
10 1, 983
27 1, 783
6 1,900
93 1,671 120 2,184 269 2,184 261 2,184 326 2,102
9 1,966
10 1,540
3 2,002 19 2,002
6 1,427
3 1,765
0
1 2,129 , 0
1 2, 309
4 1,872
0
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
1 2, 750
30
2,102
1 2,184 / l
l 2 2, 303 )/ 31
32
33
1 2,127
1 1,829
1 2,483
1 3,000 )1
2 1,922
I 2 2,190
1
i 1,560
1 2,821
1 2,339
34
35
1 2,184
1 2,703
37
5 2,102
38
1 2,162
36
)
i
}
1 2,748
1 1,547
1 2,650
1 2,750
1 2,184
1 1,769
2 2,303
1 1,829
1
/
1 2,190
4 2,421
1 2,184
2 2,102
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
22
SALARIES AND HOURS O'F LABOR, FIRE DEPARTMENTS'
T a b l e B .— N um ber of employees and annual salaries in fire departments of each of
J u ly
1988
Massachu
setts
Connecticut
Division and occupation
Total
em
ploy
ees
Bridge
port
No.
Apparatus—Continued.
Miscellaneous:
Superintendents of garage_________
Superintendents of hose__________
Supervisors of building repairs____
Supervisors of fire boats__________
Storekeepers____________________
Supplymen_____________________
Firemen, stationary______________
Laborers________________________
Fire alarm:
Superintendents_____________________
Assistant superintendents____________
Chief fire-alarm operators____________
Fire-alarm operators:
Operators, fire alarm____________
Assistant operators, fire alarm____
Operators, telephone_____________
Operators, radio_________________
Inspectors:
Chief inspectors_________________
Inspectors______________________
Electricians (including inside wiremen
and cable splicers)_________________
Linemen (including groundmen)_____
Miscellaneous:
Custodians_____________________
Foremen of construction__________
Janitors_________________________
Laborers_______________________
Storekeepers____________________
Clerical:
Secretaries__________________________
Chief clerks________________________
Clerks and bookkeepers:
Bookkeepers____________________
Sal
ary
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
4
Hartford
New
Haven
Sal
No. Sal
ary No. ary
Boston
No.
1 2,200
11
10
3
1 3,500
1 3,000
1 2,800
1 2,655
6 2,250
3 2,200
1
1
1
1
1
4 2,290
1 2,108
2
5 (3)
1 2,200
1 1,900
2
3
2
3
2,512
1, 560
1
4,500
2,300
3,300
3,000
{ 8
2,700
2,100
2,500
1
2,400
9
4
2,028
1,872
1,950
1
1
2,000
2,500
1
1
1,820
2,200
2
2,500
1
2,400
1,100
to
2,100
1,600
1 2,300
50
Stenographers and typists___________
2.500
3,000
2.500
3
14
23
2,700
1
1
1
{ 1
7 2,108
1
4
Clerks__________________________
1
1
37
18
15
1
Sal
ary
1 1,565
1 1,560
1 1,000
l
f
7 14 <
1
1
1Based on U. S. Census of Population for 1930.
2 Totals include regular, full-time employees, but do not include part-time employees, call men, or vol
unteers. Neither do totals include the commissioner for Boston.
2 Men from uniformed force are assigned to this work.
4 Part-time employee.
23
N E W ENGLAND CITIES
13
N ew England cities having a population of 1 00 ,0 0 0 or more, hy occupations
-— Continued.
Rhode
Island
Massachusetts—Continued
Cam
bridge
Fall
River
Lowell
Lynn
NewBedford
Somer
ville
Springfield
Worces
ter
Provi
dence
Sal No. Sal No. Sal No. Sal No. Sal No. Sal No. Sal No. Sal No. Sal
ary
ary
ary
ary
ary
ary
ary
ary
ary
No.
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
1 1,829
1 1,829
}
1 4,250
3,120
1
1 2,990
3 2, 340
2 1,924
2 2,132
1 2,295
1 2,588
(5)
1 3,500
1 2,600
1 2, 250
1 2,277
5 2,000
1 1,900
/) -
1 3,640
1 2,503
55
56
57
6 2,184
5 1,560
1,118
1, 300 J
3 2,239
4 2,102
5 2,184
4 2,102
58
59
60
61
)-
1 2,496
1 2,080
2, 400
2 1,922
fl, 560
[2, 730
1 3,250
1 2, 750
{1
1 2,470
}‘ 7 \ to
1 3,738
1 2,694
1 3,300
}•
1,702
1 2,050
,i
2,250
2,000
2,100
2 2,102
V/
{ i
1, 716
1,872
3 2,184
1 2,493
2 2,184
1 2,340
} 8
2,102
1 1,410
71
72
1 1,410
1■
2,190
1 1,482
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
1 1,800
1 1,829
62
63
{ 1
1,040
1,456
} 1
1, 521
73
1 2,184
{ i
1, 274
1,430
} 74
75
« Work performed by a separate city bureau. These employees are included in the totals and the text
tables.
6 Includes 1 at $1,560, 1 at $2,288, 1 at $2,340, 1 at $2,392, 2 at $2,470, and 1 at $2,730.
7 Includes 3 at $1,100, 2 at $1,400, 4 at $1,600, 2 at $1,900, 2 at $2,000, and 1 at $2,100.
24
SALARIES AND HOURS OF LABOR FIRE DEPARTMENT
T a b l e C . — Num ber of em ployees and annual salaries in fire departments of each
by occupations,
Connecticut
Division and occupation
Total
em
ploy
ees
New
Britain
Waterbury
Maine
Massa
chusetts
Portland
Brockton
No. Salary No. Salary No. Salary No. Salary
All occupations:_______________________
Fire fighting:
Chiefs_____________________________
Assistants or deputy chiefs__________
Assistant deputy chiefs and other exec
utive assistants:
Assistant deputy chiefs__________
2d assistant deputy chiefs_______
3d assistant deputy chiefs_______
Executive secretaries____________
Battalion or district chiefs___________
Captains__________________________
1,470
12
18
212
99
1 $4,000
1
3,000
4
1
1
3
3
124
9
2, 366
135
9
2,184
1
131
1 $6,000
1 3,500
1
2,800
1
16
2, 500 }19
2,800
2, 300 17
2
4
2
2, 002
947
64
2,002
135 2, 093
2d grade_______________________
68
6
1,911
27
14
23
3
1, 729
Linemen__________________________
Helpers and probationers:
Linemen’s helpers______________
Fire-alarm operators, probationary
Miscellaneous—helpers______________
Clerical:
Secretaries_________________________
Clerks_____________________________
2
2
2
8
3
3
2
9
1 $3,500
1
2,380
1
1 $3, 238
1 2, 544
2, 750
Lieutenants_______________________
Engineers, fire engine_______________
Drivers____________________________
Privates—
1st grade______________________
3d grade_______________________
4th grade______________________
Fire prevention:
Marshals or wardens_______________
Assistant marshals or wardens_______
Inspectors_________________________
Apparatus:
Superintendents of machinery_______
Master mechanics__________________
Machinists________________________
Auto mechanics____________________
General mechanics—painters________
M iscellaneous—laborers_____________
Fire alarm:
Superintendents____________________
Assistant superintendents___________
Fire-alarm operators—
Operators, fire-alarm____________
Operators, telephone____________
Inspectors_________________________
Electricians________________________
135
2, 458
1,911
3,000
2, 300
2,093
1
2,800
2,093
2
2,405
8
2,128
1,915
1,915
10
2, 035
59
1,825
95
1,850
10
1,638
3
1, 665
5
1,547
1,511
2
1,480
u
1,850
2,128
5
1
1
2
2, 380
2,015
1
1
1
2, 220
2,313
2,002 ( }
l
1
1
8
4
1
1
2, 600
2,008
1
32
2
3
8
6
15
4
1
2
3,100
1
1
2, 313
1
1, 482
1, 560 }/ 4
2
I ,820
1,850
1,580
3
1,820
1,916
1,976
1
1,183
2, 093 ( ?
\i
2,184
2,180
{!
1
3
1
1,850
1
1 Based on United States Census of Population for 1930.
2 Totals include regular, full-time employees, but do not include part-time employees, call men, or vol
unteers.
25
N EW ENGLAND CITIES
of 12 New England cities having a population of 5 0 ,0 0 0 and under 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 ,1
J u ly 1, 1988
M assachusetts—Continued
Holyoke
Lawrence
Malden
Medford
Newton
New
Hampshire
Rhode
Island
Man
chester
Paw
tucket
Quincy
No. Salary No. Salary No. Salary No. Salary No. Salary No. Salary No. Salary No. Salary
1 $4,000
1 3, 500
1
1
1
1
106
136
123
3,100
2, 825
2,800
2, 450
1 $3,000
2 2,800
____________
103
1 $3, 340
2 3, Oil
___
.
109
1 $3,600
3 2, 750
1
1
_ _ _ _ _ _
$4,000
3,000
119
109
1 $3, 600
2 2,700
11
2, 450
1
9
10
2,595
8
2,600
6
2,700
10
2,400
11
2, 350
12
2, 321
8
2, 398
8
2, 475
8
2, 450
10
2, 300
84
2,190
100
2,184
68
2,227
65
2, 252
69
2,100
1
2,090
2
2,128
2
2,152
2
4
2, 026
1,927
1
14
2, 052
1,952
2,190 84
( 1, 790 ]
} 2
15 « to
( 2. 190 1
1
1
3,011
1
2,400
2, 652
2, 503
2
1
2,800
1
2,503
1
2, 993
1
2, 398
) 1
/
1
2, 350
2,190
1
1
3, 300
2,500
4
2,190 ( ?
1 1
2,184
2, 321 V -
1
2
2, 496
2, 145 f }
l 1
2
1
1
2,002
1
2,685
2
2, 227
1
1
2, 750
1
1 $4, 500
1 3,000
1
2,900
1
1
13
1.950
2, 300
1.950
1,850
1, 875
«
2
1,875
66
1,800
1 $2, 600
2 2,300
2
3
8
4
5
6
7
g
9
58
1,734
1, 760
15
16
17
18
19
K3)
1,890
i
l
20
21
22
1,800 ) 23
1,900
24
25
1
2, 500
1
2,500
l
1,800
26
27
3
2, 100
3
1,800
4
1,734
4
2,100
28
29
30
31
2
1,800
2, 450
2,290
2
2,190
32
2
1,380
33
34
35
1
1,800
36
37
2,290
1
1,950
3 Men from uniformed force assigned to this work.
1
13
14
2,190
1
10
11
12
1,870
2, 450
(3)
2, 398 )
2, 759
2, 227
1,900
1,800
j
1
1
88
1,092
SALARIES AND HOURS OF LABOR FIRE DEPARTMENT
D .— Numbers of employees and annual salaries in fire departments of
Connecticut
Division and occupation
Total
em
ploy
ees
Bristol
No.
All occupations a.
2
Commissioner____________________
Fire fighting:
29
Chiefs________________________
38
Assistant or deputy chiefs_____
Assistant deputy chiefs and
other executive assistants:
4_
Assistant deputy chiefs____
2.
Executive secretaries______
148
Captains_____________________
146
Lieutenants__________________
3_
Engineers, fire________________
43
Drivers______________________
Privates—
1st grade__________________ 1,134
22
2d grade__________________
3d grade__________________
4th grade_________________
Fire prevention:
Marshals or wardens__________
Assistant marshals or wardens. _
Inspectors____________________
Apparatus:
Superintendents of machinery.
Assistant superintendents of ma
chinery____________________
Master mechanics_____________
Machinists___________________
Auto mechanics_______________
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
Stamford
Sal No. Sal No. Sal No.
ary
ary
ary
41
General mechanics—blacksmiths.
Fire alarm:
Superintendents______________
Assistant superintendents_____
Fire-alarm operators:
Operators, fire alarm______
Operators, telephone_______
Inspectors____________________
Electricians__________________
Linemen_____________________
Clerical:
Secretaries____________________
Clerks_______________________
Stenographers________________
Sal No.
ary
1,705
1
3
4
Lon Norwalk
Meriden New
don
$3,000
2,500
$3,458
2, 564
2, i
2,002
2,414
2,317
1,924
1,742
1,560
2,102
$2,700
2,400
68
$3,014
2,512
$4,275
3,515
2,280
2,177
1,800
2,009
2,090
1,674
2,009
(4)
(fi) .
1 2,375
1 2,233
2,418
2,345
2,564
2,317
2,080
1,900
1,800
2,009
2,177
(8)
(*)
0)
(fi)
27
N E W ENGLAND CITIES
of 29 N ew England cities having a population of 2 5 ,0 0 0 and under 5 0 ,0 0 0 1 hy
J u ly 1, 1938
Conn.—
Con.
Torrington
Massachusetts
Maine
Bangor
Lewiston Arlington
No.
Sal
ary No.
Sal
ary No.
21
68
38
Sal No. Sal
ary
ary
50
Beverly
No.
Brook
line
Sal No.
ary
59
Chelsea
Chicopee
Everett
No.
Sal No. Sal No. Sal No. Sal
ary
ary
ary
ary
139
72
102
103
(3)
1 $3,100
1 $3,000
2 1,729
1 $2, 523
1 2,011
1 $3,400
2 2,800
1 $2,300
1 2,250
1 $4, 250
2 3,190
1 $3,600
2 3, Oil
1 $3,000
2 2,460
1 $3,200
2 2,800
1 2,288
1 2,158
2 1,924
5 1,638
5 1,547
6 1,700
6 1,650
5 2,500
6 2,300
9 2,100
8 2,891
14 2,591
6 2,738
10 2, 555
1 2,296
8 2,313
8 2,600
8 2,400
13 1,872
1 1,794
1 1,716
44 1,547
20 1,600
1 1,550
2 1,500
35 2,184
44 2,002
99 2,190
6 1,991
75 2,196
2 2,000
56 2,156
1 2, 028
3 1,883
74 2,200
1 2,100
2 2,000
2 2,391
J _
t -
1 2,891
1 2,190
19
1 1,638
>(5)
1 2, 591
«1 2,500
1 2,000
1 3,000
63 1,287
f___
(5)
I 61
w
(3)
572
583 V -
1 2, 313
{
2,200
1 2,600
20
21
22
23
1 3,000 (3)
3 2,190
6 1 1.584
r 62 1.584 L__
l 61 1,668 /
—
I .
}(•)
'
1 2,080
(*)
12
13
14
15
16
17
f___
f- J _
l -
n
C)
4 1,560
>(»)
1
994
2 2,080
1 2,250
1 1,946
3 2,200
30
1 2,200
31
32
1 2,091
J(*)
J(3)
r
28
T
SALARIES AND HOURS OF LABOR, FIRE DEPARTMENTS'
a b l e D .—
Num ber of employees and annual salarses in fire departments of each
occupations ,
Massachusetts—Continued
Division and occupation
Fitch
burg
No.
1
All occupations 2__
2
Commissioner . _ __________
Fire fighting:
C hiefs___________ _______
Assistant or deputy chiefs. _
Assistant deputy chiefs and
other executive assistants:
Assistant deputy chiefs.
Executive secretaries..
Captains _ . _________
Lieutenants______________
Engineers, fire___________
Drivers _ ________ ______
Privates:
1st grade_____________
2d grade_________ ___
3d grade_____ _______
4th grade. _
....
Fire prevention:
Marshals or wardens. . . .
Assistant marshals or war
dens _ _____________ _
Inspectors. . __ ______
Apparatus:
Superintendents of ma
chinery _ __ __
Assistant superintendents
of machinery___ ___ ____
Master mechanics ______
Machinists.
________ __
Auto mechanics. _______
General mechanics—black
smiths________ _
____
Fire alarm:
Superintendents.. _
__ _
Assistant superintendents..
Fire-alarm operators:
Operators, fire alarm. _
Operators, telephone
Inspectors________ ____ _
Electricians______________
Linemen______ _____ _____
Clerical:
Secretaries____ _____ _____
Clerks.- _ ______________
Stenographers____________
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
_______
Haver
hill
Sal
Sal
ary No. ary
80
92
Pitts
field
Revere
Sal No.
No. ary
62
Salem
Taunton
Sal No. Sal No. Sal
ary
ary
ary
70
58
57
1 $3,000
2 2,129
1 $2,800
2 2,391
1 $2, 883
1 2,583
1 $2,520
1 2,340
1 $2,700
1 $2,683
2 2,383
10 2,057
9 1,984
9 2,275
10 2,184
4 2,383
4 2,283
6 2,160
9 2,070
8 2,300
8 2,150
3 2,133
7 2,058
54 1,911
1 1,820
65 2,002
49 2,002
49 1,890
39 2,002
1 2,002
38 2,002
1 1,820
3 1,638
1 2,129
i 2,070 (8)
(8)
1 2,250
1 2,129
(8)
(3)
1 2,002
4 2,002
1 1,911
(5)
«1 2,300
(8)
3 1,200
(8)
(3)
(8)
{1
1,560
2,000
2 1,997
—
Jm
i -
J
r
* Based on U. S. Census of Population for 1930.
2 Totals include regular, full-time employees, but do not include part-time employees, call men, or
volunteers.
3 Part-time employee.
29
N E W ENGLAND CITIES
of 29 N ew England cities having a population of 2 5 0 ,0 0 and under 5 0 ,0 0 0 1 by
J u ly 1, 1938
M assachusettes—Con,
Wal
tham
Watertown
No.
Salary No.
51
53
Rhode Island
New Hampshire
Concord
Nashua
Central
Falls
Cranston
SalSalSal
Salary No. ary No. ary No. ary No.
21
46
18
___
42
East
Provi
dence
Newport
Woon
socket
Sal No.
ary
Sal
ary No.
Sal
ary No.
31
46
112
___
No.
Sal
ary
1
2
1 $3,100
1 2,800
1 2, 450
1 2,100
2 2 , 350
2 2,300
1 $3,200
1 $2,600
1 2,200
1 $3,500
1 2,150
1 $2,084
1 1,839
1 $2, 457
1 $3,000
2 2,184
1 $2, 741
1 2,400
1 2,100
3 2,600
4 2, 450
5 1,950
1 1,925
1
1
6
6
4 1,760
4 1,681
3 1,925
6 1,814
1 2,080
1 1,953
2 1,977
1 1,950
2 2, 200
39 2,100
2 1,900
1 1,800
2,150
1,850
1,900
1, 850
1 2,121
14 1,800
12 1,900
37 2,200
1 2,000
9 1,800
4 1,750
1 $4,000
2 2,800
10 2,088
10 1,924
26 1,700
15 1,825
5
6
7
8
9
10
6 1,825
8 1,629
3
4
37 1,828
71 1,825
4 1,664
5 1,560
11
12
13
14
15
(8)
16
17
1 2,100 (8)
1 2,085
(3)
1 1,814
1 2,400
1 1,900 (8)
4 1,560
1 1, 850
]
K8)
19
1 1,953
1 1,800 (3)
(8)
f
J
...
18
1 2,028
1 2,268
1 1,814
1 2,184
1 1,700
3 1,825
1 2,085
1 1,828
1, 454
( j 1,
1 544 J
l 1
22
1 1,825
23
1 2,500
1 2, 028
24
25
4 1,825
26
27
28
29
30
1 1,825
(3)
20
21
31
32
33
4 Fire fighting is done by 900 volunteers.
6 Men from uniformed force assigned to this work.
6 Work performed by a separate city bureau. These employees are included in the totals of this table
and in the text tables.
30
SALARIES AND HOURS OF LABOR FIRE DEPARTMENT
T a b l e E .— Average hours and days on duty per week in fire departments of 54 N ew
England cities by functional divisions , J u ly 1, 1988
All divisions
Aver Aver
age
age
hours days
on
on
All
duty duty
per
per
cities
week week
System of operation
Total number of employees.
Continuous duty __________
168
2 days,
3 days,
4 days,
6 days,
off
off
off
off
1 day_____
1 day._ . . .
1 day______
1 d ay ... _ .
II
III
City group 1
All
cities
I,
II
III
4, 769
1,470
1,705
7,371
4,413
1, 359
21
8
20
43
15
8
20
501
322
179
496
321
175
302
121
57
21
201
121
101
298
120
57
21
201
120
97
57
21
1,056
1,418
6,818
4,394
1,025
1,399
642
207
139
5, 573
353
543
210
3,894
630
204
207
142
1,060
151
46
19
191
139
1,049
149
43
19
84
88
14
5
5
4.7
5.3
5.6
6.0
84
84
84
84
84
3.5
5.8
6.1
6.4
6. 5
142
5,615
358
571
226
47.3
5.8
482
Double platoon—regular 4 _
6,912
Other*______ . . . _________
I
Fire fighting
49
112
126
134
144
On 24 hours, off 24 hours. _
Shift 3d day____________
Shift 4th day__________ _
Shift 6th day____________
Shift 7th d a y .._________
City group 4
27.944
7.0
Single platoon 3. ___________
On
On
Qn
On
Division
4,438
3,913
525
310
500
4
1, 599
57
21
Division
Fire prevention
Alarm
Apparatus
Clerical
System of operation
All
cities
City group 1
II
III
All
cities
City group1
II
III
All
cities
City group 4
II
III
20
13
All
cities
City group1
Total number of employees.
Continuous duty_________
Single platoon 3__________
On 2 days,
On 3 days,
On 4 days,
On 6 days,
off
off
off
off
1 day..
1 day_.
1 day..
1 day_.
14
Double platoon—regular 4._
21
On 24 hrs., off 24 hrs___
Shift 3d day_________
Shift 4th day_________
Shift 6th day_________
Shift 7th day_________
Other*..
24
1 Group I includes cities having a population of 100,000 or more; group II, cities having a population of
50,000 and under 100,000; and group III, cities having a population of 25,000 and under 50,000, based on
U. S. Census of Population for 1930.
2 Includes only regular, full-time employees, with the exception of 1 commissioner in Boston.
3 The average number of hours on duty per week for employees in each variation of the single-platoon
system is arrived at by dividing the total number of hours on duty per year for each variation by 52.143.
The average number of days on duty per week for each variation is arrived at by dividing the total number
of days on duty per year by 52.143.
4 Under each variation of the regular double platoon system the employees work in 2 groups; 1 group is on
duty while the other is off duty. Over a period of days, therefore, each group is on duty as many hours as
the other, or 12 hours a day and 84 hours a week. Each variation of the double platoon, however, spreads
these 84 hours into different numbers of days on duty per week. The average number of days on duty per
week for each variation is arrived at by dividing the number of days on duty per year by 52.143.
5 The average number of hours per week is arrived at by dividing the total weekly hours by the total num
ber of employees under “ other” .
31
H E W ENGLAND CITIES
T a b l e F. — Total salaries and total number of employees of fire departments in 54
N ew England cities, J u ly 1, 1 9 8 8
Total salaries
Number of employees
Division 1 and occupation
All
cities
All occupations________________
City group 2
I
II
All
cities
III
City group !i
I
II
III
37,944 4, 769 1, 470 1, 705 $16,995, 713 $10, 410, 767 $3,089,196 $3, 495, 750
Fire fighting_____________ ______
7, 371 4, 413 1, 359 1,599 15, 790, 580
Chiefs_________________________
54
13
193, 406
12
29
Assistant or deputy chiefs______
86
30
253, 924
18
38
Assistant deputy chiefs 4________
24
9
60, 251
9
6
Battalion chiefs___ _
3
78
75
257, 026
Captains______________________
639 367 124 148 1, 563, 439
Lieutenants.. . ______________
632 351 135 146 1, 440, 346
Engineers, fire engine *_________
116 111
2
270, 910
3
Drivers6. __ _ __ ___________
191 144
4
43
388, 445
Privates, all g r a d e s ..._________ 5, 551 3, 313 1, 052 1,186 11, 362, 833
First grade. . . _____________ 5,131 3,050 947 1,134 10, 621, 676
Others__ ________________
741,157
420 263 105
52
9, 646,991 2,854, 253 3, 289, 336
45, 378
59,940
88,088
50, 796
94,894
108, 234
12, 771
23, 500
23,980
7, 332
249, 694
948, 990
286, 380
328, 069
835, 564
292, 622
312,160
260, 936
6,144
3, 830
7,754
301,159
79, 532
6,858, 974 2,136,181 2, 367, 678
6, 405, 201 1, 941,166 2, 275, 309
92, 369
453, 773
195, 015
Fire prevention________ _ ______
Marshals or wardens____ _____ _
Assistant marshals 7 ___________
Inspectors
_______ ______
Miscellaneous 8. _____
40
6
5
27
2
22
3
2
15
2
12
2
2
8
6
1
1
4
93, 206
19, 140
12, 650
57,116
4, 300
52,108
11,000
5, 059
31, 749
4, 300
27, 709
6, Oil
4, 700
16, 998
13, 389
2,129
2,891
8, 369
Apparatus__ _____________ ______
Superintendents of machinery___
Assistant superintendents of ma
chinery _ ____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Master and assistant master me
chanics. _ ______
______
Machinists __ _ _ . . .
Auto mechanics.
______
General mechanics 9 . _ . . . __
Miscellaneous.. ______
. . .
169
12
130
4
19
3
20
5
360, 979
30, 819
273, 817
12,196
44, 005
7,753
43,157
10,870
5
4
1
11, 901
9,668
17
12
63
47
13
9
9
47
45
12
3
2
9
1
1
5
1
7
1
41, 748
25,146
131, 389
91, 712
28, 264
23, 545
18, 615
95, 834
87, 697
26, 262
8, 251
4,186
19, 623
2,190
2,002
9,952
2, 345
15, 932
1,825
Fire alarm.
_ _ _______ _ .
Superintendents______ _______
Assistant superintendents. . . . . .
Chief fire alarm operators____ _
Fire alarm operators____ _____
Inspectors_____________________
Electricians ___
... ...
Linemen and groundmen .
___
Miscellaneous________ _ __ _
320
32
21
3
139
9
29
78
9
169
11
10
3
71
5
14
50
5
76
8
4
75
13
7
143, 428
30, 994
14,122
34
1
7
13
379, 200
37, 361
27,199
8, 240
151,163
11, 746
28, 550
104, 313
10, 628
156, 537
20, 665
9, 271
34
3
8
15
4
679,165
89, 020
50, 592
8, 240
275,177
19, 936
59, 820
159, 519
16,861
65, 393
6,606
17,847
30, 522
6, 233
58, 621
1, 584
13, 423
24, 684
Clerical: Clerks, secretaries,10typists,
etc
. . .
___________
44
35
4
5
71, 783
58, 651
6,692
6, 440
2,233
1 In some cities the employees listed in the fire-fighting division are assigned to other divisions. In this
release these men are included in the fire-fighting division and the divisions to which they are assigned are
shown in the appendix tables. In some cities repairs, inspection, and fire-alarm work is under separate
city bureaus. Except in 2 cities, the employees of these separate city bureaus are not included in this release.
For these reasons the number of employees listed in the table under the fire prevention, apparatus, fire
alarm, and clerical divisions vary widely among the cities, especially among the smaller cities.
2 Group I includes cities having a population of 100,000 or more; group II, cities having a population of
50,000 and under 100,000; and group III, cities having a population of 25,000 and under 50,000. Based on
U. S. Census of Population for 1930.
3 Includes only regular full-time employees, with the exception of 1 commissioner in Boston.
4 Includes 3 aides to the commissioner and 3 secretaries in city group I, 3 secretaries in city group II, and
2 secretaries in city group III.
5 Includes 18 marine engineers in Boston.
6 Includes 6 pilots in Boston.
7 Includes 2 chief inspectors in city group I.
8Includes 1 chemist and 1 constable in city group I.
9 Includes painters, carpenters, bricklayers, and so forth.
i° Does not include secretaries holding administrative positions.
O
@FedFRASER